As soon as you step off the plane arriving in Cancun to make your way to the infamous Hotel Zone (depending on where you’re staying) a few things become quite clear – you’re in Las Vegas.
Let em explain. Cancun is made up of lots of high-rise buildings (that are amazingly lit up at night), excess partying, LOTS of drinking and beautiful beaches (I know Las Vegas doesn’t have beaches, but still)! Cancun is FUN, but it can be a lot to handle - much like Vegas. (Oooooh the stories I have about that place)! Moving on!
Sometimes it’s good to have a laid back alternative when it comes to vacationing!
In comes TULUM!
Tulum’s Caribbean turquoise waters, bohemian-chic vibes, sandy beaches and jungle appeal is the more “relaxed” sister of Cancun in my opinion.
Tulum is located about 80 miles south of Cancun and it is quickly becoming the Yucatan Peninsula’s hottest spot!
Tulum’s hotel district can be broken down into 3 main areas;
☀️ Beach Road North: The hotels in this area will be near Tulum’s Ruins. Hotels include: Mezzanine | Cabañas Playa Condesa | La Vita E Bella Tulum. This area is still developing, so it’s not equipped with as many restaurants as Beach Road South.
☀️ Beach Road South: This is where all of the action is! Miles & miles of STUH-NING beachfront properties like: Azulik | Papaya Playa Tulum | Encantada Tulum | Mi Amor Tulum just to name a few! You’ll also find an array of fabulous restaurants, bars and clubs along this road.
☀️ Tulum town: This is the inland area with a more authentic feel of Mexico. It is about a 15-20 minute cab ride from the beach/beach hotels. Restaurants here will be cheaper than eating at the restaurants near the beach. Parking can also be a hassle in town if you rented a car.
Check out this map of Tulum's hotels!
Map of Tulum hotels! cc: Mexico Dave
Now the fun begins! Let's get you and your crew to Tulum!!
There is no airport in Tulum (yet). You will have to fly into Cancun’s airport (airport code: CUN) and make arrangements to get to Tulum from there. It will take about 90 minutes to get to Tulum from Cancun depending on the service you choose.
Here are a few ways to do so:
☀️ ADO buses: This public transportation service is probably the most cost efficient way of getting to Tulum. The ADO will stop in Playa del Carmen where you will transfer to another bus to get to Tulum. The cost is about $13 USD/245 MXN. *Prices subject to change*
The ADO bus!
☀️ Another site that travelers rave about is Cancun Airport Transportations. They offer competitive rates from Cancun to Tulum as well!
☀️ Taxi: A taxi from Cancun to Tulum will cost about $100 one-way. It can be booked on the arrivals level of Cancun’s airport at the transfer desk.
☀️ Yakata Transfers: I've used this company a few times while traveling to Tulum. The last time I used them (June 2021), roundtrip service from Cancun airport to the main beach road was $175.00 (USD) per person. The service is great and the drivers are punctual.
☀️ Colectivo: These are vans that are shared transportation and take off for their destinations, sometimes picking up people and dropping them off along the way. More on how to take colectivos on ‘Everything Playa Del Carmen‘.
☀️ Hotel Transportation: Your hotel can usually arrange for you to be picked up from Cancun’s airport (for a fee of course). Our hotel arranged for Bob’s Transportation to pick up us at the airport. We opted for the luxury SUV with A/C which was about $230 one-way for 2 people (our taxi ride with Francisco back to Cancun was MUCH cheaper – $90 for 4 people).
Our driver Tito! He was so damn silly! (LOL)!
If Tulum has nothing else, it has a TON of BREATHTAKING beachfront hotels! Whether you’re traveling with family, friends, your bae or solo, Tulum has a spot for everyone – to fit all different budgets!
On this particular trip to Tulum, we made it a girl’s trip! We required, no we NEEDED a spot on the beach with a nice pool but spacious enough to sleep the 4 of us comfortably. Our choice for this vacay:
La Zebra Tulum
This is one AH-MAZING property! A gorgeous beachfront hotel with a delicious restaurant on site perfectly suited for a girl’s getaway, families & solo travelers!
We rented the 'Sea View Ground Floor Suite with Plunge Pool'. Here are the deets on this fabulous room:
1 King size bed | Single bed + rollaway bed | Plunge pool | Air conditioning | Complimentary Wifi | 2 overhead showers | Mini bar + a complimentary bottle of Mezcal and more!
The Sea View Ground Floor Suite with Plunge Pool @ La Zebra!
The plunge pool – A MUST! My girls and I sat at our pool with the music playing, and cocktails flowing for hours all while enjoying the ocean’s breeze! Ahhhhhhhh! However, if you decide to not rent a room with a pool, the hotel has a beautiful rooftop pool onsite as well!
We loooooved our cute plunge pool!
The customer service at the hotel was great! Sometimes requests were a bit slow when we needed things due to the language barrier, but other than that everyone was extremely pleasant and helpful!
Swinging into some FUN @ La Zebra!
The beach club = F A B U L O U S! There are plenty of cabanas, day beds & hammocks for lounging! And during the Summer on Saturdays, a DJ will start up a party while the ‘Mulberry Project‘ keeps the cocktails coming!
Another cool thing about La Zebra is the Happy Hour specials with their sister properties – El Pez | Mi Amor | Mezzanine. At check-in, you’ll receive cocktail tickets to enjoy if you choose to visit the other locations while in Tulum!
I would absolutely LOVE to stay at La Zebra again in the future! The room was exquisite, the staff was awesome and it was within walking distance to a lot of boutiques, restaurants & bars! Our cost for 3 nights came up to $2,224.00.
It's time to get to the FUN stuff! Yaaaaaaasss! Tulum has some of the most incredible restaurants & bars! Let’s check out a few places!
BRUNCH SPOTS
☀️ Mi Amor: this place right here! Paradise on the rocks! This adult-only property is the sister property to La Zebra (so check their website for Happy Hour specials)! We enjoyed brunch at this fabulous location! Thick cut french toast, Chilaquiles, Waffles, Huevos Rancheros are just a few of the delicious items on the menu. And if that’s not enough to suck you in, then go for the super cute hanging egg chair swinging relaxingly over the pool!
☀️ Matcha Mama: looking to keep it healthy while on vacation? This will be the place for great bowls, smoothies, açaí & more!
☀️ Tunich: this cafe offers great breakfast foods that won’t break the bank!
LUNCH SPOTS & BEACH BARS
☀️ La Zebra Restaurant: Since we were guests at La Zebra, we dined at this fabulous restaurant quite a few times! And it never disappointed! From breakfast to lunch to happy hour to dinner, everything was delicious! The burgers, fresh seafood, salads, stuffed jalapeños, guacamole….all mouth watering!
☀️ I Scream Bar: This dive bar sells amazing ice cream & frozen yogurt……so I’ve heard….but that’s not why we were there! We came strictly for lunch (which was super cheap)! And this bar did NOT disappoint! The staff was crazy FUN, the drinks were potent, the music was great and the food…..AH-MAZING! The shrimp tacos, quesadilla, guacamole is beyond delicious! I got a full belly AND tipsy for under $20 USD! This place is not to be missed while in Tulum. This is a great night spot as well! (Pssst….this bar is also 420 friendly too). *NOTE: The I Scream Bar has permanently closed in Tulum (sad face) and has moved to Bacalar!
☀️ Batey – Mojito & Guarapo Bar: Is it a bit strange to find a mojito bar in Tulum? Maybe. But this bar knows EXACTLY what they’re doing when it comes to this famous drink! Enjoy the classic mojito, the cucumber basil, passionfruit & much more! I actually tried one called the ‘Azteca’ made with some super exotic fruit that was ridiculously good!
Another thing that makes this place a gem is the repurposed/psychedelic Beetle used to grind sugar cane by YOU! So much fun! Let me also add that the mojitos are super cheap here too! Probably because it’s not located on the main beach road, but in Downtown Tulum.
☀️ Papaya Playa Project: the vibe here is amazing! The shrimp tacos & margaritas are delicious! Enjoy your lunch, on the beach with a DJ spinning all the hits! So much FUN! PPP is a great night spot as well!
☀️ Ziggy Beach Club: a fabulous beach club not as expensive as the other beach clubs in the area. Ziggy’s is also a great night spot! The food is great, service is amazing as well as the ambience!
DINNER/NIGHT SPOTS
☀️ Taboo Tulum: super sexy beach spot to check out if you’re looking for hookah, amazing ambience, craft cocktails & great food!
☀️ Gitano: this is definitely a restaurant you’d want to add to your list of places to check out in Tulum! Beautiful setting, delicious cocktails, great music + more! Reservations are highly recommended!
☀️ Kin Toh @ Azulik: 1 of Tulum’s most breathtaking restaurants boasting stunning jungle views with a Mayan-Mexican avant-garde menu. If you’re not drawn in by the food menu, then come for the cocktails, ambience & photo opps! Kin Toh is known for its Instagram famous bird’s nest tables, but be aware that it comes with a $1000-$1200 dining fee. The nest tables on the inside will run about $500. Reservations is a must!
☀️ Rosa Negra: amazing food presentation, GREAT customer service, delectable cocktails and live music – can all be found here! Just make sure to make reservations. This spot can get pretty busy!
☀️ Tulum Ruins
Take a glimpse into a part of Mexico’s past by visiting these unique ruins! Located right on the coast, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the ocean. There are options to book through a tour company – if you prefer a guide, or visit at your leisure. Admission is 70 MXN and 180 MXN to park your car. *Prices subject to change*
The earlier you visit, the better! It does get crowded and mix that with Mexico’s heat & humidity - no bueno! Be sure to bring sunscreen, water, a hat, sunglasses, etc. There is not much shade!
☀️ Visit a Cenote
A cenote is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. Mexico has plenty of them! And they are definitely worth exploring!
Here are a few of Tulum’s cenotes –
☀️ Dos Ojos – This cenote is GREAT for scuba diving & snorkeling! But it’s one of the more pricier cenotes. | Location: 15 minutes from Tulum. | Price: 350 MXN/$20 per person. Bring pesos.
☀️ Gran Cenote -This is definitely one of Tulum’s more popular cenotes. So get there early! The water is super clear so you should be able to spot lots of turtles & fish! | Location: 5 km/3 mi. away from Tulum town center leading to Coba. | Price: 150 MXN/$8 per person.
☀️ Cenote Nicte-Ha – This hidden gem is off the beaten path and not as crowded as some of the other cenotes. The water lilies here really add to its beauty! | Location: 22 km/13 mi. north of Tulum. | Price: 100 MXN/$6 per person. Bring pesos.
☀️ Cenote Calavera – This cenote is a bit isolated, small, but very unique. There is a ladder leading down into the cenote itself. Enjoy jumping into the holes! | Location: Carretera 109, Tulum 77717, MX | Price: 100 MXN/$6 per person. Bring pesos.
On this particular trip, we got the chance to experience Casa Tortuga Cenote which was recommended by our taxi driver. And we were not disappointed! This natural wonder is beautiful!
The tour guide during our trip to Casa Tortuga was super knowledgeable of the cenotes/caves and he gave us plenty of time to explore, jump in & take pics! While you’re there, you’ll even get a chance to explore underwater caves which are absolutely amazing!
Exploring the caves at Casa Tortuga was INCREDIBLE!
Casa Tortuga is a bit smaller than some of the other cenotes and not as crowded (which was great)! Our tour lasted about 2 hours and we visited 3 cenotes! The 1st is a cave which really shows the pure awesomeness of the natural world! The 2nd is open air and full of life (small fish, birds and if you’re lucky – turtles) and the 3rd is a deep cave which you swim through and out to the other side!! (I legit thought I was a National Geographic explorer after that 3rd cenote)!
Jumping into a cenote is 1 of the most refreshing things EVER!
Our cab driver really came through for us on this day trip! He picked us up from our hotel, took us to Casa Tortuga cenote, then took us to downtown Tulum and back to our hotel for about $25 per person. This fee also included the Casa Tortuga entrance fee! Shout out to Francisco for an incredible day!
Looking for a different type of workout? This “Flintstones” inspired gym might do the trick! It is located right on the beach at Ahau Hotel. Go get your fitness on with some prehistoric weights! A day pass runs about $25/400 MXN.
☀️ Daniel Popper’s sculpture @ Ahau Tulum
Instaworthy pic found right at Ahau Tulum! Be sure to stop by and check out this INCREDIBLE wooden sculpture by South African artist, Daniel Popper! ‘Ven A La Luz’ stands 32 feet tall (10 meters) and is made out of steel, wood, rope, and greenery!
☀️ Tulum Signs
Don’t miss these Instagram worthy signs all around Quintana Roo!
Before I wrap up this blog, here are a few things you should know before visiting Tulum!
☀️ Safety – Yes, Mexico has a not so great representation of being dangerous, however, Tulum has remained a relatively safe destination. Always be aware of your surroundings and never carry any valuables on you. Stay abreast of any Mexico travel alerts via the U.S. Department of State –
☀️ Currency – Mexico’s currency is Pesos, although some merchants will accept USD. Most places will take debit/credit cards, but a lot of the machines were down due to spotty service when we visited. Bring pesos with you to save yourself some time & confusion.
☀️ Taxis – Taxis are plentiful in Tulum. Meaning you can bargain for rides! Just talk to the drivers.
☀️ Saving $$$ – Food at the resorts will be considerably higher than in Tulum town. You will find authentic Mexican food with cheaper prices in Tulum town.
☀️ The beaches – Tulum has a real seaweed problem that they are diligently working to fix. Try not to let it put a damper on your beach experience!
Editor's note: Tulum is DRASTICALLY changing by the minute! At the time of this blog, Tulum was slowly but surely establishing a name for itself. My last visit to Tulum was June 2021. The traffic had tripled, a couple of fun bars have now moved and made way for the huge clubs and the prices on the hotels & Airbnbs have skyrocketed. Tulum is also scheduled to get an airport in 2023 which will bring even more travelers. So pack some patience when you visit this beautiful place!
Good times were definitely had in Tulum!
Happy travels to Tulum!
